Elevator signaling system



Jan. 28, 1941. R. P. BROWN 1 2,230,073

ELEVATOR SIGNALING SYSTEM Filed July 29, 1937 i0 i 7 Posmonfm dg I wmSTOP g-; W 1, I v .2

j@ 4 INVENTOR: Ric/2d rd Pfir-owm,

I p m By amid Mae/r W L5. ATTORNEY.

Patented Jan. 28, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFiE ELEVATOR SIGNALINGSYSTEM Application July 29, 1937, Serial No. 156,270

9 Claims.

My invention relates to signaling systems for elevators, moreparticularly to the provision of an automatically operable system forindicating or Signaling to passengers within an elevator,

both the position of the elevator with respect to the several floors itserves, and the schedule of stops to be made by the elevator.

My invention, though not limited thereto, is particularly applicable tohigh-speed passenger 10 elevator systems of the type wherein theoperator, as the elevator is loaded, presses push-buttons correspondingto the floors representing the destination of the individual passengers.These push-buttons or manually operable switches are connected in thecontrol system to stop the elevator at the selected floors, or they mayserve to control signals to the opeartor, so that he may at the propertime bring the elevator to standstill at such selected floors orlandings.

In elevators of this type, the elevator car, hereinafter referred tobroadly as the elevator, is generally totally inclosed, and signalinglights above the door may in succession be lighted in response to, andto indicate, arrival of the elevator at each of the floors it serves. Inthe past, instead of the aforesaid lights, numbers have been painted onthe walls of the elevator shaft or hatchway. In neither case did thepassengers know both the position of the elevator with respect to thefloors it served, and the number of the floor at which the elevator Wasnext to stop. As a result, certain of the passengers, during the timethe elevator was decelerating to standstill, pushed their way throughthe other passengers to the door of the elevator only to find they hadnot yet arrived at their destination.

It is an object of my invention to provide a visual signaling means toinform the passengers not only the position of the elevator within the40 shaft, but also to show at all times all stops, particularly the nextstop, to be made by the elevator.

In carrying out my invention, in one form 5 thereof I provide within theelevator two rows of signaling lights each light of which is operable torender visible a number corresponding to one of the floors served by theelevator. The lights of one of said rows are in succession ener- 5Dgized in response to movement of the elevator within the shaft and inaccord with its position with respect to the floors it serves, while thelights of the other row are energized under the control of thepush-buttons or switches which predetermine the schedule of stops to bemade 55 by the elevator.

The aforesaid rows of lights are preferably located above the door ofthe elevator and enable the passengers to arrange themselves so thatloading and unloading may be accomplished without loss of time. There isfurther avoided needless crowding and shifting of passengers who havenot yet arrived at their desired floors.

In accord With a further aspect of my invention, means are providedadditionally to energize those lights of said second row, which corl0respond with push-buttons or manually operable switches located at eachof the respective floors, after one or more of said switches have beenoperated to signal the elevator to stop at the floor where a prospectivepassenger has op- 15 erated one of said switches.

For a more complete understanding of my invention, reference should behad to the accompanying drawing, wherein Fig. 1 diagrammaticallyillustrates a conven- 20 tional elevator system;

Fig. 2 diagrammatically illustrates one form of control system embodyingmy invention;

Fig. 3 diagrammatically shows one of the pushbutton switches of Fig. 2,together with a more 25 detailed diagrammatic showing of part of thecontrol circuit;

Fig. 4, in simplified form, illustrates a signaling circuit includingthe manually operable switches located at each of the respective floors3 served by the elevator; and

Fig. 5 is a detailed view of one numeral appearing in front of a signallight.

Referring to the drawing, I have shown my invention in one form asapplied to an elevator l0 suspended in an elevator shaft or hatchway IIby supporting cables I2 wound on a driving sheave I3 and driven by amotor 14. Within the elevator there is provided a conventional controlboard l5 including a switch I6 for start- 0 ing the elevator and aplurality of manually operable switches or push-buttons IT, in numbercorresponding with the number of floors served by the elevator, forpredetermining the schedule of stops of the elevator.

The details of the control It for the motor l4, including the variouscontrol circuits completed through elevator control cable I9, and thebrake (not shown) form no part of the present invention. The controlsystem may be of any of several Well-known types generically describedby those skilled in the art as signal-control systems, i. e., systemswherein the operator predetermines the schedule of stops by depressingselected push-buttons as the passengers enter the elevator, the controlI8 thereof automatically stopping the elevator at the selected floors,leaving the principal duty of the operator to move the switch IE tostart the elevator. The elevator door la is preferably automaticallyopened and closed under the control of the operator, though both openingand closing may be under his control.

An alternative type of system to which my invention is also applicableis described in United States Letters Patent #1,909,090 to Bouton etal., dated May 16, 1933. In accord with the disclosure of this patent,the push-buttons, instead of automatically controlling the stopping ofthe elevator, control signals which inform the operator to move hisswitch Hi to a position to stop the elevator. In this manner, theelevator carries. out the predetermined schedule of stops.

Continuing with the description of my invention, there are providedwithin the elevator, preferably above the door, (but diagrammaticallyshown at the side thereof) two rows of signal lights 20 and 2 I, eachlight of which, when energized, serves to illuminate a numeral corrersponding to one of the floors served by the elevator. For example, whenelevator I is but one of a large bank and is intended to serve ten orfifteen floors of a building, whether they be the lowermost or uppermostten floors, it will be understood the numerals illuminated by therespective lights, correspond to the floors served by the elevator. Asfurther illustrative, numeral 20 is shown in Fig. for signal light 2|a.

Assuming the elevator has been started from M the ground floor, as soonas it approaches the first of the floors it serves, the left-hand lightof row 20 may be energized to indicate arrival of the elevator at saidfloor. As the elevator continues to move, the other lights are insuccession illuminated, at all times to indicate to the passengers theposition of the elevator with respect to the several floors.

Before the elevator leaves the ground floor, as just described, theoperator has pressed the push-buttons I! which correspond with thefloors at which the several passengers may wish the elevator to stop.Concurrently with operation of said push-buttons, or as the elevatorapproaches said floors, a plurality of the lights in row 2| will besimultaneously energized or illuminated to inform, at all times, thepassengers that the elevator will stop in succession at the floors whosenumbers are illuminated in that row. In this manner, the passengers mayalways know both the position of the elevator Within the shaft and theschedule of stops to be made by it.

Though any suitable means may be provided to energize the lights of row20, I have shown in Figs. 1 and 2 a threaded rod 22 supporting inthreaded relation therewith a carriage 23. As the motor |4 drives theelevator Ii] from one floor to another, the carriage 23 reproduces, bymeans of suitable gear reduction, on a smaller scale the movementsthereof. By arranging contact segments 24, 25, 26 (in numbercorresponding to the floors served) in positions to be engaged bybridging member 23a of carriage 23, as the elevator approachessuccessive floors, the signal lights of row 2|] may in succession beenergized.

As shown in Fig. 2, the bridging member 23a has just been moved tocomplete between segments 24 and 21 an energizing circuit for signallight 20a which may be traced from a supply line 28, by conductor 29,signal light 26a, contact segment 24, bridging member 2311, and bysegment 21 to the other supply line 30. The signal light 20a thereuponilluminates a numeral appearing on a cover glass, or otherwise indicatesto the passengers the arrival of the car at that particular floor, forexample, the 20th floor in the building. Similarly, as the carapproaches the 21st and 22nd floors, energizing circuits are insuccession completed for the signal lights 2% and 220. However, if theschedule of stops, as determined by the operator, only includes the 20thand 23d floors, push-button switches Fla and l'lc will be depressed,simultaneously energizing signal lights Ma and 2|c of the second row 2|.In this manner, the passengers may know the car is not to stop at the22nd floor but only at the 20th and 23d floors.

While only three floors have been diagrammatically indicated in Fig. 2,it is, of course, understood the respective circuits may be duplicatedand lights provided for as many floors as may be desired. In lieu ofelectric lights or lamps, it is within the scope of my invention toprovide other forms of visual indicators or signaling means such, forexample, as masks which may be automatically moved to expose illuminatednumerals, or dials and associated pointers.

Though the push-button switches Ila-410 may be of the momentary-contacttype, they preferably remain in the positions to which they are operateduntil after the car has passed the corresponding floor positions. Forexample, and referring to Fig. 3, as soon as push-button Ila has beenpressed, an energizing circuit is completed for signal light 2|a and fora relay 34 which may in control |B serve to initiate at proper timestopping of the elevator. This circuit may be traced from supply line28, through coil 32, signal light 2|a, normally closed contacts 33, andby operating coil of relay 34 to the other supply line 30. The coil 32magnetically maintains the push-button ll'a in its depressed or operatedposition against the bias of a return spring 35.

As the elevator ll) approaches the floor corresponding to signal light2| a, a projection or roller 36 carried by or movable with the elevator,engages a cam 31 to interrupt the circuit by opening of contacts 33; thespring 35 thereupon operates the push-button |1a to its originalposition. The interruption of the circuit just described of courseextinguishes the signal light 2Ia.

Instead of the series circuit shown, the other contacts of switch ||amay be used for parallel connection of lights 2|a and relay 34; or theymay be included where necessary in the control In accord with myinvention as thus far described, no provision has been made to includein the schedule of stops, as shown by the row of signals 2|, those stopsproduced by operation of signal switches or push-buttons 40, 4| and 42located at the respective floors. As is frequently the case, after theelevator is in motion, a prospective passenger may press one of thepushbuttons 40-42 to stop the first elevator approaching his floor inthe desired direction.

Referring to Fig. 4, if the push-button 40 is momentarily operated, anenergizing circuit is completed for a relay 43, which may be traced fromsupply line 28, by contacts 33 operable by cam 37 (Fig. 3), conductor44, operating coil 45 of relay 43, conductors 46 and41, contacts of thepush-button switch 40, and by conductors 48 and Him the supply line 30.The relay 43 thereupon operates to close its contacts 50, 5| and-52, thelatter serving as a part of the control system I8 to initiate stoppingof the first elevator approaching the push-button 40 in the correctdirection. The contacts 5| complete a holding circuit for the relay 43which is interrupted by the opening of contacts 33 in response to thearrival of the elevator at the selected floor, as described inconnection with Fig. 3.

Upon closure of contacts 50 of relay 43, an energizing circuit ispartially completed for a signal light 54 located above the push-buttonswitch 40. This energizing circuit is completed by a switching means 55,shown of the threaded rod and carriage type, and controlled or operableby movement of one or more of the elevators to bridge contact segments56 and 550 as the first elevator approaches that floor in the proper direction. The signal light 54 is then energized through a circuit whichmay be traced from supply line 23, segments 56 and 56a, contacts 50 ofrelay 43, signal light 54, and by conductor a to the other supply line39. Concurrently with energization of signal light 54, a relay 51 isenergized to close its contacts and thereby complete an energizingcircuit for signal light Ha of the second row 2|. This circuit may betraced from supply line 28 by conductor 58, contacts of relay 51, signallight 21a, and by conductor 59 to the other supply line 30. As alreadystated, the relays 43 and 5'! are returned to their original positionsas soon as the elevator arrives at a position to effect opening of thecontacts 33.

Similarly, circuits may be completed for sig nal lights 41a and 420.,respectively, above pushbuttons 4| and 42, Fig. 1.

Also shown in Fig. 4 is the manually operable switch or push-button Ilalocated within the elevator. It is clear from the diagram, and aspreviously explained, when this push-button is operated an energizingcircuit is completed through its contacts for the signal light 2|a whichis independent of the other energizing circuits of Fig. 4.

The switching device 55, per se forming no part of the presentinvention, may comprise a plurality of commutating devices connected andarranged in a well-known manner, to initiate the stopping of the firstof several elevators to approach within a predetermined distance of,generally two or three floors away from, the floor at which there hasbeen operated one of the switches, as one of push-button switches 40, 4|or 42, and at about the same time to complete the circuit betweensegments 55 and 56a, so that the proper signal light, as for example,light 21a, is energized within the elevator which is to be stopped; andso that corresponding signal lights in the remaining elevators servingthe floor at which the operated switch, as switch 40, is located, arenot energized.

While I have shown particular embodiments of my invention, it will beunderstood that I do not limit myself thereto, since many modificationsmay be made, and I therefore contemplate by the appended claims to coverany such modifications as fall within the spirit and scope of myinvention.

What I claim is:

l. A system of signaling the position and the schedule of stops of anelevator comprising a series of visual indicators within said elevatorcorresponding in number to the floors served by said elevator andobservable by passengers within the elevator, means 'for renderingdistinctive each of said indicators as the elevator approaches a floorcorresponding thereto, a second series of visual indicators also locatedfor observation by passengers within the elevator, means within saidelevator operable to actuate those indicators of said second seriescorresponding with stops to be made by said elevator for discharge ofpasof a plurality of manually operable switches, corresponding to thenumber of floors served by the elevator, disposed within said elevator,a series of signal lights within said elevator individually arranged toilluminate numerals corresponding to the floor-numbers served by saidelevator, a manually operab le switch, disposed at each of said floorsserved by said elevator, and

control means for said signal lights responsive to operation of saidswitches at said floors or within said elevator for individuallyilluminating the numerals corresponding with the stops to be made priorto arrival of the elevator at the corresponding floors.

3. A signal system for indicating and identifying to passengers withinan elevator the stops to be made for discharge of said passengers andfor pick-up of prospective passengers comprising signal devices withinthe elevator corresponding with and identifying the floors served by theelevator, control devices within the elevator operable selectively toactuate those of said signal devices corresponding with the floors atwhich the elevator is to stop for discharge of passengers, and controldevices at said served floors operable by prospective passengers toefiect actuation of other of said signal devices corresponding with thefloors at which the elevator is to stop for pick-up of passengers.

4. A signal system for indicating and identifying to passengers withinan elevator the stops to be made for discharge of passengers and forpick-up of prospective passengers comprising a plurality of signaldevices within the elevator corresponding with and identifying thefloors served by the elevator, a plurality of control devices within,the elevator operable to actuate those of said signal devicescorresponding with the floors at which the elevator is to stop fordischarge of passengers, and means for actuating those of said signaldevices corresponding with other floors at which the elevator is to stopfor pick-up of passengers comprising a plurality of control devicesoperable by prospective passengers at said floors.

5. A signal system for indicating and identifying to passengers withinan elevator the stops to be made for discharge of passengers and forpick-up of prospective passengers comprising a plurality of signaldevices within the elevator corresponding with and identifying thefloors served by the elevator, a plurality of control devices within theelevator operable to actuate those of said signal devices correspondingwith the floors at which the elevator is to stop for discharge ofpassengers, and means for actuating those of saidsignal devicescorresponding with other floors at which the elevator is to stop forpick-up of passengers comprising a plurality of control devices operableby prospective passengers at said floors and means operable by theelevator as it approaches each of said floors at which one of saidsecond named control devices has been operated by a prospectivepassenger to effect actuation of the corresponding signal device.

6. A signaling system for a multi-car elevator system comprising aplurality of signal devices within each of the cars corresponding withand identifying to passengers therein the floors served by it, amanually controlled member at each of the floors served by said cars,and means controlled by the cars to effect, for actuation of any one ofsaid members, response of the corresponding signal device within one ofsaid cars to identify to the passengers a stop to be made for pick up ofprospective passengers and to preclude response of the correspondingsignal device in each of the other cars.

7. A signaling system for a multi-car elevator system comprising aplurality of electric signal devices within each of the carscorresponding with and identifying to passengers therein the floorsserved by it, a manually controlled switch at each of the floors servedby said cars, and switching means controlled by the cars to effeet, foractuation of any one of said switches, response of the correspondingsignal device in the first of the cars to arrive at a predeterminedpoint in its approach to the floor at which the actuated one of saidswitches is located to identify that floor to passengers of said firstcar and to preclude response of the corresponding signal device in eachof the other cars.

8. A signaling system for a multi-car elevator system comprising aplurality of signal devices within each of the cars corresponding withand identifying to passengers therein the floors served by it, meanswithin each of the cars for actuating those of said signal deviceswithin the car corresponding with stops to be mad-e for discharge of itspassengers, a control device at each of the floors served by said carsfor operation by prospective passengers, and means controlled by thecars to effect, for actuation of any one of said control devices,response of the corresponding signal device within one of said cars foraddition to its indicated stops and for identification to passengers ofsaid one of said cars the floor corresponding with the actuated controldevice and to preclude response of the corresponding signal device ineach of the other cars.

9. A signaling system for a multi-car elevator system comprising aplurality of signal devices within each of the cars corresponding withand identifying to passengers therein the floors served by it, switcheswithin each car for controlling said signal devices to indicate stopsrequired for discharge of its passengers, switches at each of saidfloors operable by prospective passengers, and switching meanscontrolled by said cars and coacting with said floor switches forcontrol of the floor-identifying signal devices in the cars to effect,for actuation of any one of said floor switches, control of thecorresponding signal device in only the first of said cars to arrive ata predetermined point in its approach to the floor at which the actuatedone of said switches is located to avoid addition to the stops indicatedby the signal devices within each of the other cars.

RICHARD P. BROWN.

